TLRMC PREPARES FOR H1N1 FLU

The staff at Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center regularly reviews emergency preparedness guidelines including how to handle a large number of patients arriving in a short period of time from a natural disaster, accident or widespread outbreak of illness.

In response to the H1N1 flu (swine flu) threat, TLRMC has taken precautions to ensure it meets the health care needs of the community. Staff members from several departments have assembled plans and resources to address a potential large outbreak of H1N1 flu.

Emergency planning attempts to minimize the effect that the surge of potential flu patients has on the ability of the hospital, the doctors, the nurses, and the support staff to care for other patients. Ample amounts of supplies are in stock and procedures for obtaining more quickly are in place if a sudden outbreak were to occur. Employees have been reminded of procedures already in place for dealing with infectious patients.

Patients who think they might have the flu are asked to notify registration personnel immediately upon arrival at the hospital. Patients who possibly have the flu are kept separate from other patients and visitors. These patients may also be asked to wear a mask in order to prevent the spread of the illness. Procedures are in place to provide these same precautions for a large number of patients arriving at the hospital in a short amount of time.

Public education is a major factor in containing the spread of an illness such as the H1N1 flu. Employees and the general public are reminded of guidelines to help reduce the spread of the flu. These guidelines include proper hand washing techniques, using alcohol-based hands cleaners, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, covering coughs or sneezes and staying home if you get sick.

Not every person with the symptoms of fever, chills, aches, and cough needs to be seen at the hospital for care. Often a telephone call to the family physician or the health department may be all that is needed to get information and perhaps medication if it is warranted.

Go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ for updated information on the H1N1 flu.